On December 9, 2018 at approximately 1:30 PM, a tractor trailer had become disabled and was stopped on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 81 just before exit 66 in Kingsport. The driver, later identified as William James Taylor (58 Years of Age of Robertsdale, Alabama), was walking away from, and just to the north of, the disabled tractor trailer.

Other northbound vehicles were moving over to the left for safety as they passed the disabled tractor trailer. One of those vehicles was a black 2017 Dodge Journey, driven by Scott Russell Register (42 Years of Age of Hughesville, Maryland) and occupied by three additional passengers.

As the Dodge Journey merged to the left, it hit a patch of slush and snow in the travel lane, causing Mr. Register to lose control of the vehicle. The Dodge swerved back to the right across both northbound travel lanes and struck Mr. Taylor as he was walking along the shoulder. Mr. Taylor died as a result of the impact.

This motor vehicle collision remains under active investigation by the Kingsport Police Department Traffic Unit. As such, no additional information is available for release at this time.

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